FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS: UAE-BASED DJS MAKE ELECTRONIC MUSIC HISTORY IN KARACHI
Three UAE-based DJs have helped mark a major turning point for electronic music in Pakistan.
Karam Toubba, Adira and Umair Bilal recently played Karachi’s first-ever public, state-backed electronic club night, Drift Field, as part of the Karachi World Culture Festival.
For a city where electronic parties have traditionally existed behind closed doors, the night represented a significant shift. Drift Field opened electronic music to a wider audience, backed by the Government of Sindh, and staged without alcohol, commercial concessions or mainstream crossover.
The music stayed uncompromising throughout. Adira pushed acid-heavy selections, Umair Bilal locked into rolling, driving techno, and Karam Toubba delivered his signature “proper techno” sound – stripped back, anti-commercial and rooted firmly in the genre’s foundations. Around 600 people filled the space, many encountering underground electronic music for the first time.
“Usually, electronic parties in Pakistan are private, invite-only events,” said Toubba, who curated the night. “This was the first public electronic music event funded and supported by the Government of Sindh. There was no alcohol, just people dancing like crazy to music they’d never heard before. It was beautiful.”
What stood out most was the response; rather than treating the night as a one-off, the crowd leaned in. “At the end, many people came up asking for artist names and record labels so they could explore more,” Toubba added.
For him, the moment carried personal weight beyond the cultural milestone. “I’m extremely proud to have spread my sound with absolutely no compromise,” he said. “And I’m even more proud that Umair, who was born in Karachi, got to play in his home city. That was something he’d never even imagined.”
In a region where underground electronic music frequently exists at the margins, Drift Field offered a glimpse of what can happen when institutions step back and let the music speak for itself. For Karachi’s dance floor, and for the UAE-based artists involved, it was a night for the history books.
